Emergency services personnel gave hospital workers a round of applause last night to show appreciation of their hard work and bravery during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Police led a motorcade of firefighters and Royal Bermuda Regiment soldiers from Hamilton Fire Station to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, where they cheered and clapped as some staff finished work and others arrived to start their shifts.

Imani Bean, a 23-year-old nursing assistant, said that she felt “appreciated” and “encouraged” by the show of support.

She added: “It’s nice to know that the community is cheering for us, especially when we could actually see it.

“It let’s us know that they’ve got our backs in all of this.”

Ms Bean, from Devonshire, who was in the middle of an eight-hour shift when the cavalcade of emergency service and military vehicles rolled up, said that the pace of work at the hospital had accelerated after the coronavirus arrived on the island.

She added that, although the situation was stressful, everyone at the hospital was careful and prepared.

Ms Bean said: “Everyone’s doing what they’re supposed to do — everyone’s on their Ps and Qs, being vigilant and making sure we’re all doing everything we need to do to make sure the patients and the staff are safe.

“Everyone’s doing their job and we’re all just working together to get over this.”

A 52-year-old male nurse, who asked not to be named, added that the demonstration highlighted how much people cared about the work of hospital staff.

The man, from Warwick, said: “It’s very wonderful that the other service sectors were able to appreciate the contributions that we as health workers are making here.”

He added that the show of support would help keep him motivated through a ten-hour night shift. The nurse said: “It’s something that is necessary and something that we should feel not only in a time of crisis, but throughout our work journey.”

Police acting Chief Inspector Tracy Burgess organised the event after she was inspired by similar demonstration of support in other countries.

She explained: “I thought ‘why aren’t we doing something like that?’

“We have to show our appreciation for these people that come in and care for patients that can make them sick themselves.”

Ms Burgess added: “We are all partners in this and I don’t think people recognise that.”